Show Letters from Soldier Boys 1 I. I i U. U S. S Naval Training Station San Francisco Cal Col Sept 26 96 1918 Dear Mother Father and antt all at home your letter and was waa sure glad to get It and to learn you were all well as It leaves me O. O 1 K IC and a burning Inspiration to go ahead We Wo are quarantined as the epidemic epidemic epi epi- epi demic of Spanish Influenza Is spread all over the camps We have no lions yet but safety first The Tho govern govern- ment meat Is all military camps Out But dont don't mind It so much as my hair Is IB short yet and I 1 dont don't want any hair when I go on shore because because be be- be cause they call me mo Ha la ha hap We went to church this morning which is one of our many duties I received The Record you sent and wish you ou would send me one each week as it Is nice to read tho home homo paper Russel Hussel Kidder w was here to see me He lie said he saw Joe McLaughlin and had bad lunch with Merle and Jeff vIe Ivle I had pay day today some pay day 5 O. O I got a brand new 5 6 bill never been used We WC got our dog tag as it is called A small piece ploce of tin about an Inch And a half square with my name when I was tarn barn 1 rn and when I enlisted enlisted en en- en listed in the U. U S. S navy On the theether theother other lither side my first finger print It Isto is isto isto to be hung around my neck so if it If any thing happens they can tell who I am immediately I 1 have seen Dan and Harry Ryan they like the life the life the only life I have taken out ten thousand dollars dollars dol dot lars insurance it only costs mo a month I 1 am on guard duty to We Weare Weare Weare are permitted to wear a big belt with witha a billy in it and some ome times we are aro compelled to use It We are allowed Ved four tour suits of white cloth two of blue four tour hats three pair shoes six pairs socks one overcoat overcoat overcoat over over- coat one ono Jersey sweater four Cour suits underwear two blankets two mattress mattress mattress mat mat- tress covers one mattress on one one pair gloves six handkerchiefs and needles thread buttons brushes of all kinds such as shoe brushes hair rushes scrubbing brushes and tooth brushes and one l pair leggings I had my second shot in the arm arm armor or T T. P. P it did not bother me much Ask the other fellows how i ft f feels We Wo had a big entertainment today given by some people from isco and we sure appreciated it as they were mostly girls the best of all was the Hula Hula which caused mu muth h excitement I had two stripes put on my blouse showing I am a second class seaman Promoted from first sea sea- man Well I must close for Mr Haddon will get tired of publishing such a along along along long letter J I remain as ever Your loving son Bon MA MAYNARD A I LETTER LETTEn FROM nun HUD HOltAN Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean Dear Stroller Stroller Stroller-I I am In the sick bay in my bed trying to tell you about my DIY trip over We Ve had colored troops and all fine soldiers we were fired at Sept 1918 at nine o'clock In Inthe Inthe inthe the night and some of the soldiers almost went crazy I was going to tomy tomy tomy my battle station which is in the powder magazine and was hit on the head with a big hatch cover I was rayed out flat and when I came to he the battle baUle was over and 1 I was wal in the sick bay boy in bed I I 1 was In there for the rest of the trip the doctor said sald th that t I sure was wasa a lucky sailor boy We went to Ireland and I 1 wish that hat I could have been at liberty for forit fort It t is a pretty country 1 I looked out of f the rho sick bay port hole and it looked good to me but I couldn't leave cave the ship There are rf z number numbe of at f boys In the hospital with me mo the they were wounded In the trenches and the they hey told me some awful stories We came came ame by way of France but the boys couldn't go on shore beca because se the Germans Germane put a germ In all of the sea seaport seaport I port towns and there was many a French Drench sailor died so 80 our Captain said aid that none of at the officers or sailors sailors sail sail- ors go on shore Safety first We will soon be into the good old United States and I wont be a bit sorry orry for tor that was one trip that I will never forget We have as good gooda a gun crew as any ship going over the he pond and that is something to tobe tobe tobe be proud of Well Stroller Stroll r I am a second class petty officer now I was just rated this last trip and 1 I I am certainly going up the ladder since I joined the navy I am in charge of the fire stations on board ship when we have fire drills tad ind doing my Lest hest to uphold my old home town Park City Utah This is sure a big big- boat one of the biggest cargo ships that Germany lad had had and we carry a big load of troops I wish that you could see seethe seethe seethe the cargo that one one of these big ships carry Well Vell Stroller we have a fine print shop on our ship and I am going to send you a copy of at the paper the name of It is the Scream all about the ships company They say we are going to be in for some time and if 11 they are I 1 ani am going to try and come home on a furlough but I guess no such luck I hope that I will be off oft the sick list by the time we get in I a am aft n feeling a lot better today With lots of love to those at home FRANK HORAN I. U LETTER 1 nun BUD Norfolk Virginia Oct 4 1918 Dear Stroller Stroller Stroller-I I ha haVe e Just received The Thie Record and it is s same me meas as being In Park I lam Iam am sure glad to see see my old home town paper and to hea hear that you are all well well-at home The doctor has told me that I can cango cango cango go back to work again and I am no not sorry at all all for I have been in the hospital for one one month and that Is i n a al l long ng time when you u are on the water This town to is In quarantine and almost almost almost al al- most all of the ships crew The people people peo peo- pie are dying something awful herein here hereIn herein in Norfolk They say that the Germans Germans Ger- Ger mans are the ones who put it in t tIe e seaport towns town's to kill the uniform men We all had bad d a shot in the eye and nose today by the doctor they are doing all that they can con to stop slop the disease There is thirty ty cases on our ship and nine boys and one officer died dice today Ill I'll tell you you Stroller theold the theold theold old Kaiser Kalse will pay for all of ot this The theaters have all closed down and also churches dance halls balls and all al places that the people go for amuse amuse- ment It was the same way in France we couldn't go to a show because because because be be- be- be cause the Germans had put a germ germIn In the water to kill the people am and they were dying every day Well Stroller I would like to run across cross some come of at the old home town boys over there but I g 1 guess sl there Is Iso no o such luck I 1 have made eight trips rips over there and anti I 1 haven't only taken aken one boy from home and that was was was' John Bishop I had a card from brother Dili and he IB said that he had arrived safely In n sunny France t Wc Wo had an awful battle on the last trip rip and that Is one trip that thaC I will never forget target as long as I 1 live I 1 was the only sailor hurt and they say that I am entitled to a for I Iwas Iwas Iwas was hurt in a battle baUle and 1 I am waiting waitIng wait wait- Ing ng to hear from tram my captain The weather was wa fine tine and the ocean cean was as calm as a lake and that GAL NINE NINa NINEs l is s the time that the Germans do their dirty work I 1 would like to come home on a furlough but they say they cant can't let goo good oc l I boys go home but never ne' tho less lessI I 1 think that I 1 deserve a leave for tor a while Because cause when a sailor goes goes over the he pond eight times t I think that they hey would give him film a leave teave but the theold theold theold old saying of Sherman l is that war Ishell is ishell ishell hell boys and I think that he was right Just think Stroller I have traveled travel ed miles In less than a year on the w water ter that is sure going some Bome We went to Ireland on the last trip rip and the boys like the country fine Ine Things are awful high there but mt the people are taking the war fine I guess I 1 have a about out run to the end of my news supply so I will say good bye good for for we will soon be some somewhere somewhere somewhere where on the briny deep again Your friend FRANK HORAN |